[dropcap]N[/dropcap]obody was expecting a shootout Saturday in South Bend.
The game plan was simple. Come to work, put away North Carolina and shift focus to the defending national champions. But the Fighting Irish had their hands full with the Tar Heels, who put up 510 yards offense against Notre Dame.
Notre Dame squeaked out the 50-43 win — the highest scoring game in the 84-year history of Notre Dame Stadium — with 47 seconds left in the game when en Koyack recovered the North Carolina onside kick.
“We managed to find a way to battle back and get up on them and score 15 points late in the game and get a win,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said. “There are many, many things I could delve into, but I would say the thing that points up for me is that our guys know how to win football games. They found a way to win this one.”
Everett Golson was plagued by turnovers again this week, giving the ball to North Carolina on three occasions. Golson made up for his troubles with three touchdowns and going 21-for-38 with 300 yards on the day.
Marquise Williams, North Carolina’s quarterback, threw for 303 yards with two touchdowns, going 24-of-41. Williams also ran for a score and caught a 23-yard reception in the third quarter from Quinshad Davis for put the Tar Heels ahead, 36-35.
North Carolina’s Achilles heel were penalties and mistakes. Norkeithus Otis kept a drive alive for his opponents with a roughing-the-center call that led to a 9-yard pass from Golson to Tarean Folston early in the fourth quarter. The Irish would then add a two-point conversion for the 43-36 lead.
“I just left a team whose guts are ripped out of them right now,” North Carolina coach Larry Fedora said. “They came here believing they were going to win a football game, and they came up short.”
Fedora added that Otis said he didn’t hit the center too early, but didn’t discuss the penalty more after that.
Notre Dame’s Folston added a 6-yard scoring run following a Cole Luke interception to help secure the win for the Irish.
Saturday’s game marked the second-straight game in which the Irish (6-0) had to rally in the final quarter for the win. With the victory, No. 5 Notre Dame will head to No. 2 Florida State (6-0) next weekend in the ultimate test of the year.
